Left guard Robert Gallery confirmed that he is slated to become a free agent after this season, unless the Raiders re-sign him before free agency starts.

Gallery has played his entire seven-year NFL career with the Raiders. He was the N0. 2 pick of the 2004 NFL draft and has been a linchpin of Oakland’s offensive line the entire time.

“I love this place,” Gallery said. “I’m just worried about this last game. I know I like playing for that guy (coach Tom Cable). Everybody knows how this locker room feels about him.”

When asked if he expected to be re-signed, Gallery said he isn’t sure.

“This is the first time going to free agency for me, so I don’t know what the process is like,” Gallery said. “I’m not really worried about it. It’s a long ways away. We’ll see what happens. I, obviously, haven’t thought one bit about it.”

— The Raiders lead the league with 1,199 penalty yards. They can eclipse the franchise record with 76 penalty yards against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Coincidentally, the Chiefs hold the NFL record for most yards penalized in one season, when they piled up 1,304 yards in 1998. Also, the Raiders have received 1,122 penalty yards in their 15 games this season, by far the most of any team in the league.

— Sebastiank Janikowski moved past Jeff Jaeger for the franchise record for most points scored in a season (135) with the 14 he scored against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Janikowski’s points Sunday came by virtue of four field goals and two extra points in the 31-26 loss. Jaeger set the mark (132) in 1993. Janikowski’s previous single-season high came in 2002, when he scored 128 for the league’s top-ranked offense.

— Pro Bowl selections will be announced Tuesday. In years past, it was almost a foregone conclusion that cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and punter Shane Lechler were the only legitimate candidates for the Raiders.

This year, strong cases can be made for: Asomugha; Lechler; Condo; Janikowski, who leads the league in scoring; defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, who leads AFC tackles with seven sacks; running back Darren McFadden, who is fourth in combined yards rushing and receiving; kick returner Jacoby Ford, who is tied for the league lead with three kicks returned for touchdown; and special teams standout Rock Cartwright.

Asomugha is the only Raiders player who led the fan portion of the voting process. Fans’ votes counts for one-third of the process, with players and coaches each getting one-third.

— Cable said that defensive tackle Richard Seymour is “improving” in his recovery from a hamstring injury he suffered against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 19. Seymour missed the Colts game.

Right offensive tackle Langston Walker still is suffering from post-concussion symptoms, even though he has passed the mandatory tests for players who get a concussion.

“He’s passed the target but he still has some symptoms,” Cable said. “So, until those are gone, you can’t do much about it.”

Cable said that Mario Henderson fared well in place of Walker against the Colts. It was Henderson’s first start at that position. He spent his first three-plus NFL seasons at left offensive tackle before he lost his starting job to rookie Jared Veldheer six games into this season.

“Mario started off kind of hit and miss, then, as it went, he got better,” Cable said. “He had some struggles on a couple of things but, overall, again for a guy stepping in, who hadn’t played a lot lately, once he got into his rhythm, he was OK.”

— Now that the Raiders are out of the playoffs picture, Cable has had to modify his team’s short-range goals. To that end, he addressed the team about the importance of this Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.

“We talked about that,” Cable said. “That was really the plan this morning because it’s something we all had to face when you woke up this morning that it’s not going to happen for us. We talked about the improvements we’ve made from a commitment level, of where we want to take this thing and where we want to ultimately be and that’s to win a championship.

“It’s a process to get there. We’ve kind of been going through all of those things, but this week is just the last step for this year, and that is to go out and win a game and finish the season 8-8, stop the losing record thing that has kind of been chasing this organization for a number of years as well as complete the sweep in the division. I think that would be a heck of a deal for our football team and launch us into the future and the next year.”

— Oft-injured wide receiver Chaz Schilens finally caught a pass this season. In fact, he caught two against the Colts for 17 yards Sunday, after going three games without a reception.

Cable said he is excited about the prospect of Schilens going into the offseason without any lingering health issues. Schilens has been plagued by foot and knee injuries the past two years.

“The thing I’m really encouraged for Chaz is, hopefully, we get through the last week with him again improving and getting more involved and him being able to walk away from the season injury free or healthy, if you will,” Cable said. “To go into the offseason would be a huge step for him. It’s good to see him back involved, definitely.”

When asked if Schilens has the talent to be a No. 1 receiver, Cable offered the following:

“I think this. If he’s healthy, he has the chance to lift us up. You can’t sit around and put No. 1 tags on someone until they can have a chance to go out and prove it. Unfortunately, with his injury situation, he hasn’t been able to that. I do think he’s a quality player and I do think he could really be something for us.”

I have no doubt that RoMac will be alot better next year, so an anthletic 325lb NT would be great.

***

after the draft Tom Cable was asked if we had done enough to address the crappy Run D. He said “we have a plan and you’ll like it”

Apparently moving a Pro Bowl DE to DT and drafting a Top 10 MLB wasn’t enough. I have seen enough of ShoNasty, Houston & the DB’s to know they aren’t the problem

How much would it help to replace Seymour with a rookie? Kelly isn’t going anywhere!

Wimbley & Groves are better OLB’s than anybody we’ve had there since Kirk Morrison. Do we really want to hand the job back to guys like Ricky Brown, Jon Alston, Robert Thomas, Sam Williams & Thomas Howard?

I sure don’t!

What DC can we get that would actually be considered an upgrade over John Marshall to run Al’s Defense?

DutchRaider77

Kind of confused, but why are you guys comparing McClain to Morrison’s rookie year?
Didn’t Danny Clark play MLB and Morrison play OLB during Morrison’s rookie year?

RaiderRockstar

Cable is a players coach. Mike Singletary isn’t

not sure how well those 2 would mesh. That might turn out to be another film room brawl amongst coaches

Would love to see Singletary replace Haluchek as LB Coach, but that would be a huge demotion … like Zorn going to HC to QB Coach

DKnight007

I find it ridiculous how the Raiders seem to be one of the most penalized teams in the league year in and year out.

It’s freakin OBVIOUS the NFL officials and officiating crews look to pick on the Raiderswhen it comes to penalties any chance they get.

It’s a joke….the NFL should be ashamed of itself.

DutchRaider77

I would agree that UT/NT should be one of the most important positions in Al’s Scheme. We should have one of the most elite players’ at that position, right?

If Al does not believe in Blitzing and feels we should only bring pressure with his front four, then we need an animal at the NT/UT position who can stop the run and rush the passer.

363.RaiderRockstar Says:
December 28th, 2010 at 9:39 am
I think last year most of us were saying a MLB and a NT.

I have no doubt that RoMac will be alot better next year, so an anthletic 325lb NT would be great.

***

after the draft Tom Cable was asked if we had done enough to address the crappy Run D. He said “we have a plan and you’ll like it”

Apparently moving a Pro Bowl DE to DT and drafting a Top 10 MLB wasn’t enough. I have seen enough of ShoNasty, Houston & the DB’s to know they aren’t the problem

How much would it help to replace Seymour with a rookie? Kelly isn’t going anywhere!

Wimbley & Groves are better OLB’s than anybody we’ve had there since Kirk Morrison. Do we really want to hand the job back to guys like Ricky Brown, Jon Alston, Robert Thomas, Sam Williams & Thomas Howard?

I sure don’t!

What DC can we get that would actually be considered an upgrade over John Marshall to run Al’s Defense?

^^^^^^^^^
I think John Fox as DC would be an upgrade from Marshall.

Fox is younger and has more energy and would probably make adjustments much faster than old Marshall.

-You can’t blame DHB for being drafted 7th. He is a hard worker, and he has raw talent.
-TH is our best cover LB, and we don’t use him.
-Scott is a good pass rusher.
-Murphy will be a good WR, he shows flashes if what he can be in a few years under a good system and good coaching.

Who is Sanjay Lal?!

DKnight007

Rolando McClain will make morons shut their mouths just like DMC did this year.

McClain is only a ROOKIE and showed how important he was to the defense when he was out of the J-Ville game.

He is only going to keep getting better!

He is a BEAST!

McRaider5150

RaiderRockstar Says:

What DC can we get that would actually be considered an upgrade over John Marshall to run Al’s Defense?

———————–
As long as it’s Al’s Defense that the DC has to Run, we will continue to have problems. John Marshall is running the Defense that Al wants him to run, so another DC won’t make a differnce IMO.

Aside from a few games, they did well against the run when they weren’t giving up the 50 and 70 yards run.

Also, when you are running a lot of man on man, the DB take long to react to the run, so they don’t come up to stuff the way you would in some zone coverages.

RaiderRockstar

I think John Fox as DC would be an upgrade from Marshall.

Fox is younger and has more energy and would probably make adjustments much faster than old Marshall.

***

Fox is 55 years old and was already DC for Al Davis in 1994 & 1995

prior to that he was a DB coach for 5 years in the NFL

DKnight007

I think John Fox as D-Coordinator would be an upgrade from Marshall.

Fox is younger and has more energy and would probably make adjustments much faster than old Marshall!

It’s usually the plays where the other team has just scored and our DBs are looking at each other quite puzzled.

+++++++++++++++++

hahahahahahahaha….Sad but true…

Thec07

I am not sure we practice those D sets enough to be efficetive, or is it that the [players just ont get it, ie it may be too much for them….

Thec07

Fox told Payton not to come here… why would HE come here?

+++++++++++++

That one decision changed the landscape of the NFL…

McRaider5150

J Hill Says:
The Raiders primarily run a 4-3 Man defense.

——————————————————

As they should. Have you seen the attempts to play zone?

It’s usually the plays where the other team has just scored and our DBs are looking at each other quite puzzled.
—————————
No argument here, but can you tell me what defense in the top ten runs a 4-3 man 90% of the time???

My point is until Al, give the okay to change the scheme and brings in a good DC that can build his own D, we will continue to have problems stopping the run.

Thec07

I am not sold on marshall however, fox can go kick rocks… esp since he told payton ton to come here…
He can take a UFL DCO spot….

RaiderfanNY

A few things:

Gallery, good but not great, has to be brought back because the line needs some continuity. There will be at least one new starter on the line.

Bush is a good back-up, but can be replaced. He’s not in McFadden’s league.

It’s too early to rule on McClain. He had a decent rookie season and is likely to improve.

Seymour — dominant at times, invisible at others — is running out of gas and can’t be given a long-term, big-money deal.

Groves is a back-up. Wimbley should be a third-down pass rusher. We need new OLBs.

But the big question is who will be the starting QB on opening day next year. I expect it to be Campbell. I would prefer Carson Palmer.

In Cincinnati, Palmer has to be The Man. In Oakland, he could hand-off, rely on Zach Miller and only be asked to make 3-6 important downfield throws a game — which Campbell can’t do.

I like 4-3 man defense, but I don’t think we had/ have enough talent to run it.
We have good pass rushers and a good front 4, but we need more talent in the secondary. Nnamdi is great, Branch and Huff are avg/ solid starters, but we need another CB t make it work. Teams are taking advantage of that by avoiding Nnamdi, and getting a lot of yards from bad coverage from the other players.

Thec07

It’s too early to rule on McClain. He had a decent rookie season and is likely to improve.

+++++++++++++++

I would have to agree with this statement…I was one of the guys that said McClain was slow sideline to sideline however, I do beleive that was due to him learning the system from a rookie perspective.

The game will slow down for him and he will be instinctive, vs reactionary….

Thec07

504 Raider Says:
December 28th, 2010 at 10:12 am
I’m going to go to local restaurants here to suggest a new combo item on the lunch menu:

It’s called the #2 Matty Melt!

Lean meat w/melted cheese and onions on toast.
Side salad.
Any fountain drink w/ NO ICE.